Faculty Handbook

I. D. DISSENT

(Source: Minutes of the Faculty, January 27, 1986)

"The faculty affirms that it has not changed its policy as expressed in the following statement:

'Reed College considers the right of free speech, and therefore, that of dissent, to be fundamental to its life as an academic community. The exercise of the right of dissent is not something to be grudgingly tolerated, but actively encouraged. The boundaries of dissent stop at the point where the exercising of it, and the decisions accompanying the exercise, are denied to others. Accordingly, protests or demonstrations shall not be discouraged so long as neither force nor the threat of force is used, and so long as the orderly processes of the College are not deliberately obstructed. Physical obstruction, the threat and use of force in the interest of dissent, are things which cannot be tolerated in an academic community, and those engaging in it must be regarded as having violated conditions fundamental to the preservation of its integrity and of its very life.

Further, at this College, such acts, striking at the heart of the Community by denying it the functions for which it is organized, constitute a violation of the Honor Principle. Accordingly, persons proved by the Judicial processes of the Community to have engaged in such acts will be considered to have committed honor violations.'"